BANGKOK PATANA ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP

Alice grew up in Kent, England with her parents and three sisters. She spent the first seven years of her teaching career in a school in South East London where she held the positions of PE teacher and Head of Year. Alice decided to explore international teaching after hearing so many positive, exciting stories from friends and headed to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in August 2018. At the Alice Smith School, she led the Secondary PE department and was heavily involved in sporting events across SEA for both FOBISIA and SEASAC. After four years, Alice decided she was ready for a new challenge and is excited to experience living and working in Bangkok.

Carly was born in the UK but later moved to and grew up in the UAE. She returned to the UK for higher education, graduating from the University of Plymouth in 2010 with an honours degree in Primary Education, specializing in Art & Design. Carly later obtained a Master's in Education from the University of Bath. She began her teaching career in Devon, UK, before moving to work at a boarding school in Malaysia. In 2015, Carly joined Bangkok Patana School as a primary teacher. She has since worked in various year groups throughout the Primary School and stepped into the role of Cross Campus Vice Principal for Professional Learning in 2024.

Currently Cross Campus Assistant Principal, Curriculum Technology Integrator since 2014, Brian joined the Science faculty in August 2002 as the KS3/4 Science Coordinator, becoming Head of Science in 2008. He started his career as a chemical engineer following a B.Eng. in Chemical Processing and Materials Engineering from Nottingham University. In addition to his native UK, Brian has taught in Kenya, Togo, Oman and Qatar. Presently he is studying for his M.Ed. Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration with the University of Bath.

Carol comes from the UK. She received her B.Ed from New College Durham and her M.A. from the University of London. Prior to joining Patana, she was Head of Upper Key Stage 2 at the British International School Jakarta and, before that, Deputy Head at a school in Camden, London. This is her twenty-first year at Patana and her roles during this time have included Primary Head of Science, Primary Head of Year, and Senior Teacher. Carol is currently the Primary Assistant Principal, Learning and Welfare and leads Whole School Safeguarding at Patana.

Rachel Preston is an innovative and versatile primary educator and senior leader with experience spanning Early Years to Upper Key Stage 2. Her career is marked by a commitment to fostering academic excellence, aligning curriculum and assessment, and driving measurable school improvement across diverse UK and international settings. She is currently Vice Principal for Curriculum and Learning, where she focuses on
revitalising professional practice, developing curriculum initiatives and strengthening whole school alignment. Rachel's expertise extends to leading professional development, implementing strategic initiatives, and enhancing curriculum coherence. Her practice is grounded in delivering and modeling high-quality teaching strategies, informed by current guidance and the evolving needs of students and staff.
Rachel has a Masters in English Education with the Institute of Education, her NPQH, and is dedicated to staying at the forefront of educational research. Beyond her professional achievements, she is a long-distance runner, a bibliophile, and holds a Level 4 HSK in Mandarin.

Rick joined Bangkok Patana School in this role in 2022. He is also a Designated Safeguarding Lead. He brings more than 20 years of educational experience, having previously served in leadership positions across Primary, Secondary and Whole-School levels in the UK and Thailand. These roles have included Head of Teaching and Learning, Director of EAL, Designated Safeguarding Lead, Head of Year, Head of Department and Senior Leadership. In these capacities, Rick has successfully led teams in developing academic excellence, pastoral care and inclusion in order to meet the diverse needs of learners and communities.
Rick's academic foundation includes a BA (Hons) from the University of London, a PGCE in English and Drama from the University of Cambridge, and an MA (Ed.) in Educational Leadership and Management from the University of Bath.
Beyond his school leadership roles, Rick contributes to the broader educational community as an author, having written both a children's book and a teaching resource. His commitment to holistic education is further reflected in his interest in meditation and mindfulness practices.

Lorna was born in the UK. She graduated from Leeds University with an honours degree in Geography and then went on to train as a Geography teacher at the University of Cambridge. Lorna has also obtained a Masters in Education from the University of Cambridge. Lorna has been teaching for 22 years and been an Assistant Principal for the past 11. She began her teaching career in an inner-city school in London where she taught for 3 years before moving to Sri Lanka to be Head of Geography at Colombo International School. After 3 years in Colombo she moved back to the UK to teach in a large state comprehensive in Cambridgeshire. It was here that Lorna first joined the senior leadership team and became Assistant Principal in 2010. Lorna has been at Patana for three years in the role of Secondary Assistant Principal, Student Welfare.

Luke was born in Germany as his parents were both teachers in a British Army School. He graduated from the University of Plymouth with a BSc in Digital Technology and then went on to train as an Information Communication Technology teacher at the University of Brighton. He will complete his MA in Educational Leadership and Management at the University of Bath next year. Luke has been teaching for 18 years and has been a Senior Leader for a total of 6 years. He began his teaching career in East Sussex, Crowborough, very close to the Hundred Acre Wood made famous by A.A. Milne. He left the UK having spent 3 years as Assistant Principal at a very large state school. He taught in the UK for 7 years before moving to the USA in 2011. After 3 years in Boston, he moved to Qatar (5 years) and then he moved onto Sri Lanka to become the Deputy Head of Academics at the British International School in Colombo. Luke has recently joined Patana as the Secondary Assistant Principal, Curriculum and Academics.

After graduating from the University of Birmingham with an honours degree in Physics with Astrophysics, Andrew began his career in education by teaching A Level Physics to large classes in rural Tanzania through Voluntary Service Overseas. On returning to the UK, he completed his teacher training at the University of Bristol and went on to teach in two large comprehensive schools in South-West England.
Andrew joined Patana in 2004 as Head of Physics, later becoming Head of Year in 2009, and IB Coordinator in 2012. In 2020, he took on the dual role of IB Coordinator and Assistant Principal. Alongside his leadership responsibilities, Andrew completed a Master’s degree in Education at University College London in 2022. His professional interests include contemporary educational research, particularly in the areas of data-informed practice and the development of key competencies in young people.
A passionate advocate of the International Baccalaureate and its mission, Andrew is deeply committed to the holistic development of students. He enjoys teaching all elements of the IB Core curriculum and is known for his enthusiasm in helping students make meaningful connections between their learning and the wider world.